the _Falcon_ might spring a leak, or be
driven on rocks or quicksands, while there were many pirates cruising
about, some French and others Flemish, on the look-out for merchantmen
sailing without a convoy of men-of-war.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

THE "BEGGARS."

I do not think I shall ever get the sound of those clanging pumps out of
my ears. Daylight returned, but a thick mist hung over the sea, and
concealed all objects from sight. The ocean was now calm; we wished
indeed that there had been more wind, that we might with greater speed
finish our voyage. At length, as the sun rose higher in the sky, his
warm beams dispelled the mist, while a breeze from the south filled our
sails, and once more we glided rapidly through the water. We looked
round for the _Falcon_. No vessel answering her description was
visible, but in the south-west were two or three sail. The _Falcon_ was
not likely to have been in that position. We only hoped that, should
they draw near to us, they might prove friends. Now we set all the sail
the vessel could carry; indeed, every one on board was anxious to take
her home in safety, knowing the reward they would receive for so doing.
As the day advanced, two of the strangers drew nearer. They were tall
ships, their hulls being high out of the water, and their masts crowded
with sail, towering above them. Our captain regarded them attentively.

"They may be friends," he observed; "but it is not impossible that they
are foes, and we shall do well to keep out of their way."

The wind now favoured us, coming still more astern; and long yards were
rigged out on either side of the vessel, from which sails were hung
close down to the water. Active seamen went aloft and hoisted other
masts with yards and sails above those already set. To the extreme
yard-arm also spars were run out, from which more canvas was hung.
Thus, like some winged creature, we glided rapidly over the smooth sea.

We watched the strangers. The more our captain looked at them, the more
he was convinced that they were French. It was doubtful at first
whether, with all our exertions, we were getting ahead of our pursuers.
If taken, we should not only lose the wealth committed to our charge,
but be ourselves placed in prison; and the French had a bad name for the
way in which they treated their prisoners. The more anxious we appeared
to be to escape, the more eager our pursuers evidently became to
overtake us. They als